Inrush electric current control circuit recloser



y 17, 1951 E. o. PAINTER 2,561,287

INRUSH ELECTRIC CURRENT CONTROL CIRCUIT RECLOSER Filed June 19, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 26 INVENTOR.

EZFflEEd' l1 Pain-tar dfif I ATTORNEY y 17, 1951 E. o. PAINTER 2,561,287

INRUSH ELECTRIC CURRENT CONTROL CIRCUIT RECLOSER Filed June 19, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. EFT'IE 5% U. 1 ELUTFEI" ATTORNEYS E. O. PAINTER July 17, 1951 INRUSH ELECTRIC CURRENT CONTROL CIRCUIT RECLOSER Filed June 19, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. Erna 5+ [1. ain-tar BY: 2 Z 5 i ATTORNEYS.

July 17, 1951 E. o. PAINTER 2,561,237

INRUSH ELECTRIC CURRENT'CONTROL cmcurr RECLOSER Filed June 19, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

Ernes c l1 1 E11 -1: E1"

ATTORN EYS.

July 17, 1951 E. o. PAINTER 2,561,287

INRUSH ELECTRIC CURRENT CONTROL CIRCUIT RECLOSER Filed June 19, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. 5111+ ET ATTORN EYSv lGO Patented July 17, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE INR-USH ELECTRIC CURRENT CONTROL CIRCUIT RECLOSER Ernest 0. Painter, Freedom, Pa.

Application June 19, 1947, Serial No. 755,559

12 Claims. 1

This invention relates to inrush electric current control circuit reclosers. Such reclosers may be employed, for example, as means of controlling the high inrush electric current which immediately follows the closing of conventional transmission and distribution electric circuit breakers after unavoidable de-energized periods, or so-called outages. Such circuit breakers may be those associated with the transmission and distribution circuit operated by electric public utility companies serving a large number of consumers from suitable distribution areas.

High voltage transmission circuits supplying lateral or urban distribution substation areas at considerable distances from a centralized control point, further increases the inrush current magnitude. since the charging current of the transmission line and transient currents, caused by the initial excitation of distant substation transformers, add to the dynamic current when the circuit breakers are closed following outages.

This high inrush current is particularly marked in cases where a concentrated load supplied by a long transmission line, from a centralized control point, is de-energized at the source, leaving all connected load in so-called on, or working position.

When the circuit is again energized at the source, high inrush current will result, first, because of the transmission charging current; second, because of the transient and excitation current of the distant substation transformers; third, because of the dynamic load still connected to the distribution circuit supplied from the distant substation; fourth, because of the starting current of motorized equipment is at 500% above the normal running current; fifth, because of the accumulated load resulting from the loss of diversity of the automatic motorized load connected to the distribution circuit if the outage is prolonged beyond the operating time cycle of the motorized equipment.

It is obvious, from the above, that circuit protective equipment at the centralized control point or source, must necessarily be of a high rating if the circuit breaker is to remain closed when service resumption is attempted after an extended outage.

Thi necessity reduces the protective effective: ness of the circuit under normal conditions, because a high setting must be instituted in order to sustain the high inrush current crest which immediately follows the closing of the circuit breaker after an extended outage.

The high inrush current involved when conventional distribution circuit breakers are closed, Y

following an outage, is caused by the loss of diversity of the automatic motorized equipment, which may include household refrigerators, water pumps, furnace blowers, sump pumps, stoker motors, air conditioners, deep freezers, and fans, and a, cautionary aspect of this situation is the trend toward improved efliciencies which would shorten the operating time cycle of automatic motorized equipment, thus further aggravating the condition, because of the greater loss in diversity following extended outages.

The following arithmetical summary will serve to illustrate the inrush current magnitude over the prior outage current following an extended outage to automatic motorized load when the circuit breakers are closed. It has been established that 10 amperes of automatic appliance load, motors normally running one third of the time (off two thirds), will in a large group, contribute to a diversity factor of three. With a starting current of each at 500%, the inrush current per 10 amperes of diversified motor load will be 10 3 5 or amperes and this is 15 times normal; following extended outages if the running time is one-fourth, the inrush becomes 20 times normal. After an extended outage, the devices will prolong their first operating cycle to catch up," and there are indications that the current magnitude will still be 15% or thereabouts above normal, 15 minutes after resumption of current. From the above, it is apparent that the crest value of a distribution circuit normally carrying 300 amperes can reach several thousand amperes at service resumption.

The inability to keep conventional circuit breakers closed when attempting to resume service after extended outages, has resulted in many hundreds of additional outage hours, and service could not be resumed until the circuits were manually sectionalized.

Increasing present protective relay current settings, and instituting longer time curve characteristics generally i deemed undesirable, since high values of short circuit current might per sist with disasterous results far in excess of standard fault clearing time practices. Furthermore, increasing the time-current curve characteristic might place the short circuit current of distant points below the circuit breaker trip setting, thus leaving these sections unprotected.

The circuit recloser which I have invented possesses all of the desirable conventional characteristics of the standard circuit breaker. In addition, it provides a means of selective time de- 3 layed intervals before the recloser can energize the line beyond its location after potential is applied to the recloser.

Another important object is to provide a positive means of automatically controlling high inrush currents following long outages or de-energized periods characteristic of distribution circuits when the conventional circuit breaker is reclosed.

The novel recloser affords a means which will allow the lowering of current tripping values of present day conventional protective equipment at central substations, to safer limits, thus instituting greater protective margins. better operating performance of the circuits, greater protection of equipment, and increased safety of public and operating personnel.

This new recloser provides a means of eliminating manually operated sectionalizing switches which are in common use at present, thus instituting greater continuity of service, saving many thousands of circuit-outage hours.

Another important object is to provide a recloser which will aiford means of isolating local faults to the particular section involved under its control, thus leaving the fault-clear portion of the circuit unaifected and normally operating. because of the reclosers ability to operate and lockout persistent faults on the line section beyond its location. 1

Still another major object is to provide a recloser which embodies a novel automatic mechanical means of allowing the recloser to operate only once in cases where the recloser is manually reset erroneously, and fault current beyond the recloser still persists.

This new recloser provides a plurality of selective time interval settings readily made. and related to the desired time interval setting of other reclosers installed in the same circuit.

A still further important object is to provide a recloser having an electrical control circuit arranged in. such a manner that, when the device is normally operating in the closed position, the power consumption of the device is almost negligible since only one of twotripping solenoids employed is energized from a potential transformer.

Another important object of the invention is to split a normal distribution circuit into several sections, each under the control of a separate circuit recloser having a different reclosing time setting with relation to other circuit reclosers connected in the same circuit in the manner briefly described above, and affords means of controlling high inrush current at service resumption following outages by allowing the high inrush current crest in one section to decay before subsequent sections are automatically connected.

A further object is to provide a recloser which automatically trips out, de-energizing the circuit beyond itself in case of potential failure, and will automatically restore service beyond its location, after a predetermined time, when potential is reestablished.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description of the invention, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a portion of this disclosure, and in which drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a housing with portions of the novel recloser mechanism therein, and certain electric wiring shown diagrammatically.

Fig. 2 is a partly diagrammatic view of the portions of the new recloser within the housing of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a partly diagrammatic view of the portions of the novel recloser mechanism preferably disposed exteriorly of the housing of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view of most of the portions shown in Fig. 3 as viewed in a direction normal to the direction in which the portions are viewed in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a time delay disc associated with the structure of Figs. 3 and 4.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a motor-driven disc associated with the disc of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an edge view of the disc of Fig. 6.

' Fig. 8 is an enlarged top plan of a lockout switch operating means of the structure of Figs. 3 and 4.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary top plan view of a portion of the showing in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a section substantially on the line Ill-ill of Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a plan view of a mercury switch and associated structure, the switch being also shown in Fig. 4.

Figs. 12 and 13 are diagrammatic views showing two separate installations of the novel reclosers.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of iilustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the novel inrush electric current control circuit recloser is designated generally as A, a distribution substation as B, line sections as C to G inclusive, a distribution circuit as H, a second distribution substa tion, as K, a transmission circuit generally as L. a substation transformer as M a distribution circuit generally as N, and line sections as O and P. Two conventional circuit breakers are designated as Q and R.

Referring to Fig. 1, the novel inrush electric current control circuit recloser A is shown mounted in and on a suitable housing I! having a bottom wall 16 and walls 11 extending upwardly therefrom, defining an upwardly-opening chamber ll, provided with a closure 19 which may carry insulators 20 and be detachably secured to the housing it by any suitable means, as bolts 2| and nuts 22.

- Preferably supported within the chamber II. by means of such as the bolts 2'! extending downwardly from the closure I 9, and provided with associated nuts 2|, is a support or frame 2| which may include a bottom horizontally-disposed, support mcmber 26, upstanding members 21 secured thereto, and an upper, horizontallydisposed, support member 28. The bottom support member 28 may rest upon suitable brackets 28 carried by the walls I'I, disposed preferably ad- Jacent the bottom wall it.

Referring now mainly to Figs. 1 and 2, within the housing I! and supported by the support or frame 25 is a main pole rod operating solenoid 33, which may be supported, intermediate the top and bottom of the frame 25, as by a suitable cross support II carried by the arms 21 for vertical reciprocation of a pole rod 32 which is normally urged upwardly, as by a contraction coil spring 22, against a pole rod stop 34 (which may be carried by and depending from the support member 22) since the lower end of the spring 23 is suitably secured to the rod I2 above the solenoid windings housing 35 and its upper end is suitably secured to the support member 2| at the stop ll.

The lower end of the 33, preferably of dielectric material, mounting a pair of first high-tension contacts 31, which head is adapted to abut a stop 33, carried by the bottom support member 29.

Preferably. above the solenoid windings housing "and below the lower end of the spring 33, is a latch-head-receivlng slot 39 in the pole rod 32, which slot extends laterally through the rod, with the'slot having one large mouth or end and an opposite smaller mouth or end (since preferably, the lower wall of the slot converges from the larger mouth toward the upper wall thereof in the direction of the smaller mouth or end). The walls of the slot 39 together with a spring-urged latch-head 5| form a pole rod latching means, the operation of which is to be subsequently described in detail.

Associated with the first high tension contacts 31, to form an electric switch is a pair of second high-tension contacts 40. Each of these may be in the form of a horizontally-reciprocating plunger, with the plungers facing one another and extending toward each other from the open ends of suitable housings 4| each of which also houses an expansion coil spring 42 normally urgin the plungers outwardly. Suitable means may be provided to limit outward movement of the plungers, such as the wallsol horizontal slots 43 in the housings 4| and projections 44 carried by the plungers and extending into the slots. These projections may, if desired, also carry one end of a pair of high tension conductors 45 which will be referred to subsequently. The housings 4| may be mounted upon suitable insulators 46 carried by the support member 26.

The pole rod latching means 50 includes a latch head 5| carried by the pole rod 32 and retained mostly within the slot 39 for reciprocation transversely of the pole rod 32. Normally, the pointed end portion 52 of the head 5| extends outwardly .of the smaller end of the slot 39 while, at that time, the opposite end portion 53 of the head 5| is disposed within the slot and inwardly of the plane of the periphery of the rod 32. The

end portion 53 is provided with a socket 54 to receive one end of an expansion coil spring 55, the other end of which is retained about a projection at the free end of a set screw 56 having a collar spaced from the free end upon which the spring abuts. The set screw 56 extends through a screw-threaded opening in a support 51 secured to the periphery of the pole rod 32:

this support 51 having an opening or recess 58 to receive the end portion 53 of the head 5| when the end portion 52 of the head 5| does not project from the smaller end or mouth of the slot 39.

Associated with this end portion 52 of the head 5| is a latch arm 59 which normally may extend horizontally with its free outer end interposed in the vertical path of travel of the head 5|, when the latters end portion 52 projects outwardly of the slot 39. The latch arm 59 is both pivotally as well as reciprocably supported by a housing or support 60 carrying a pin or projection 9| extending through a slot 62 in the latch arm 59 at adjacent its end opposite its outer free end. Adjacent this outer free end, there is pivotally connected with the latch arm 59, a second arm 63 havin a head 64 at its free end. This head 64 has a front face, upper face and lower face which latter two are preferably normal to the other face. The head 64 is normally accommodated in a recess 63 having upper and pole rod 32 carries a head lower surfaces constructed and arranged to abut the upper and lower faces respectively but, ince the recess 39 is longer than the length of the head 94 from the upper to the lower faces of the former, only one of the surfaces of the recess abuts its adjacent face of the head at one time. as may be .seen in Fig. 2. The second arm 53 is also connected to the latch arm 59 by a contraction coil spring 69 with one end suitably secured to the arm 63 adjacent the head 54 and the other end suitably secured to the arm 59 intermediate its slot-containing end. A second coil spring 19 is secured at one end, to the arm 59 intermediate the ends of the latter, then projects somewhat downwardly, then extends around an arcuate face ll of the housin 60 and, from there, upwardly where its other end is secured to the housing 60.

Referring now to portions associated with the head 64, there is a first latch-tripping arm 13, pivoted intermediate its ends to the housing 69 with its lower end normally in contact with the vertical surface of the head 64, its main body portion inclined upwardly therefrom and its upper enlarged end 14 attached to the lower end of an upwardly-extending contraction coil spring I5. The upper end of the latter may be carried by the housing 60. The enlarged end I4 provides a portion to be struck by a descendin armature of a first latch-tripping arm solenoid to be subsequently described.

In addition to the arm 13, there is a second latch-tripping arm 15, also pivoted intermediate its ends to the housing 60 with its upper end normally in contact with the vertical surface of i the head 64, its main body portion inclined downwardly and terminating in an enlarged end I1 providing a striking surface for an ascending armature of a second latch-trippin arm solenoid, to be subsequently described. A downwardly-extending contraction coil spring 18. secured at one end to the arm 16 and secured at its other end to the housing 60, tends to draw the end 1'! of the arm 16 downwardly. An adjustable means to limit movement of the end 14 of the arm 13 downwardly and of the end 11 of the arm 16 upwardly may be provided and be a vertically-extending double-headed screw I9 carried by a horizontally-extending projection 39 of the housing 60 having a screw-threaded opening therefor, and with the heads of the screw interposed in the paths of travel of the ends 14 and I1.

As to the first latch-tripping arm solenoid mentioned (the solenoid constructed and arranged to operate the first latch-tripping arm 13), this solenoid 8| is designated as the novoltage tripping solenoid and is positioned with its vertically-reciprocating armature 82 disposed to strike upper surface of the end 14 of the first latch-tripping arm 13, and the windings hous- "ing thereof may be supported by the frame 25.

Disposed, in the example shown in the lower left-hand portion oi the chamber l9, as in Fig. l, is a transformer housing 95 enclosing a potential transformer 96. From an end of one windings thereof a lead 91 extends, by way of a branch 91, to the fixed contact 9I, while the other end of this windings is electrically connected, as by lead 99, to a lead 99 extending to the lower end of the windings of the solenoid III and the other end of the solenoid windings is electrically connected, as by lead I99, to the lead 91. As for the other windings of the transformer 96, one end thereof is electrically connected, as by lead I9I, to the main line conductor I92 and the other end, by lead I99 to the conductor I94. The lead III and conductor I92 are electrically connected, as by one of the conductors 49 to one of the hightension contacts 49.

From the other high-tension contact 49, the second conductor 45 extends to the lower end of the windings of solenoid 99 and, from the upper end of these windings, a lead I99 extends to the main load conductor I98.

From the movable contact 92 a lead I91 extends to one end of the windings of an electric motor III and to the windings of a solenoid II9 to be subsequently described. Electrically connected with the lead I91 is a lead I99 to the upper end of the windings of the solenoid 99 while the other end of the windings of this solenoid is electrically connected with a lead I99 extending to one terminal of a mercury switch to be later described.

Referring now mainly to Figs. 3 to 9 inclusive this structure is disposed preferably exteriorly of the housing I5, but may be enclosed by a suitable device, such as the cabinet II9, shown in Fig. 1, carried by the walls I1 of the housing II. This structure includes a suitable synchronous electric motor III, a conventional speed reduction gearing I I I operatively coupled thereto, and a clutch-like structure designated generally at H2.

The clutch-like structure I I2 includes a disc I I9 shown in Fig. 6, rotatably carried by the motor shaft II4 having radially-extending grooves H9 extending from one face thereof constructed and arranged to mesh with radially-extending teeth H9 in one face of a time delay disc II1 shown in Fig. 5, which disc is mounted for reciprocation, along its axis of rotation, upon the shaft I I4 and urged into meshing engagement with the disc II9 by a horizontally-disposed armature Ill of asolenoid I I9, having ahead I I9.

The disc II1 of Fig. 5, carries an adjustable rack-free timing catch member or projection I29, extending non-radially outwardly of the plane of the periphery of the disc. may be detachably secured to the disc III as by pairs of screws I2I carried by the projection and extending through pairs of screw threaded sockets I22 projecting inwardly from one of the disc's faces. Preferably, these pairs of sockets are This projection I29.

etc., shown in Fig. 5. These and the other numerals represent seconds of time, so that a setting to meet the requirements of a particular recloser may be had.

It should be noted that the outermost face I29 of the projection I29 is arcuate, for a purpose later detailed.

Carried at the periphery of the disc I" and projecting preferably non-radially therefrom, is

a timing disc stop arm or member I24. This arm I24 is adapted to contact a stationary stop I29 interposed in the path of the former, as may be seen in dotted lines in Fig. 3. A contraction coil spring, which may be termed the timing disc return spring I26, has one end secured to the stop arm I24 and normally extends upwardly to a rack locking and lifting pin support structure which will be subsequently described.

The timing disc stop arm I24, during its move- :ment with the disc H1 is also adapted to con tact a, second, but adjustable, stop I21 carried by a suitable support I29 by means of suitable screws I29 the shanks of which may extend into any selected group of screw threaded sockets I99 in the support I29. In the example shown the support has an arcuate edge facing the periphery of the disc H1 and a face I9I normal to this edge, from which the sockets I99 extend. Guide indicig (numerals representing seconds of time), as that designated I92, may be provided on the face I9I for adjustment of the stop I21. Any selective time-setting position may be had by this adjustment, depending upon the particular reclosing time setting selected. As may be seen in Fig. 3, the disc II1 has a rotation of substantially 90 but, obviously, the rotation may be less than 90 upon adjustment of the arm I21.

Lockout means to render the recloser open and inoperative under persistent short circuit conditions includes a third member, this being an integrating pin catch I99 carried by a. bracket I99 preferably detachably secured to one face of the disc H1 and projecting non-radially therefrom. This catch I is pivotally carried by the bracket I99, with one end portion of the catch urged into contact with the periphery of the disc by a suitable means, as the expansion coil spring I91 with its inner end bearing against the outer face of the catch I99 and its inner end bearing against the head of an adjustable screw I99, the outer end of the shank of which screw is surrounded by the spring. The shank then extends through a hole in the catch and into a screw threaded socket in the disc I I1. The catch I99 has a bill I99 at its end portion opposite the end portion resiliently retained by means mentioned for engagement (when discs II 9 and III are in contact with each other) with one of a plurality of integrating pins or projections I49 extending, in equally spaced-apart relationship, in a row, along one face of an elongated reciprocating member, being a rack I. This member has, inwardly of one end I42, a plurality of teeth I49 constructed and arranged for meshing with the teeth I44 of a rack lock I45 which is normally urged downwardly by an expansion coil spring I49 hearing at one end, against the upper end of the lock I45 and bearing, at its upper end, against the lower, enlarged extremity I41 of an adjusting screw I48 rotatably carried by a rack locking and lifting pin support structure I49 (which structure carries one end of the spring I29 heretofore described). The lock I49 is reciprocable vertically so that its teeth I44 designated by suitable indicia as 10, 920," "30," II will or will not mesh with the teeth I49 01 the rack I4I depending upon the position of the former. This reciprocation is effected by contact of the rack-free timing catch member or projection I20 with the beveled lower end of a projection I50 extending downwardly from the lower end of the rack lock body. The projection I50 extends through a suitable opening in a guide arm and abutment I5I carried by a portion of the structure I49. In order to effect tolerance adjustment of the rack I with reference to the pins I40 and catch I35, a suitable tolerance adjustment means may be provided, such as an adjusting nut carrying a shank I52 adapted to abut the screw threaded end I42 of the rack I and extending through a bracket carried by the structure I49.

The rack I4I has a plurality of pinion-meshing teeth I53 meshing with those of a pinion I54. Preferably these teeth I53 are intermediate the length of the rack and project from the same edge thereof as contains the teeth I43.

Referring now to that portion of the rack I to the right of the teeth I53, as in Fig. 3, the rack slides through an opening in an arm or bracket I54 depending from the structure I48 and, surrounding a portion I55 of the rack (which portion may be round in transverse cross section) is an expansion coil spring I56, which may be termed the rack return spring, with one end bearing against the bracket I54 and its other end bearing against an adjustable spring abutment I51, which is spaced inwardly of the end I58 of the rack portion I55, and will com- 10 threaded to receive a pair of nuts providing an abutment I15 for a purpose later detailed.

Referring now to the lockout switch I16 shown mainly in Fig. 8, this includes a movable and adjustable contact I11 carried by an arm I18 having an enlargement I19 at its end opposite the contact I11 this being, preferably, a sphere. The arm I18 is pivoted intermediate the contact I11 and sphere I19 and normally urged into contact with the fixed contact I80 by a retraction coil spring I8I. A portion of the sphere I19 is within the plane of the perforation I62.

Reciprocable in the perforation I62 is a lockout switch reclosing pin or plunger I82 having a head I83 (which may be a. sphere) at its end adjacent the sphere I18. The shank of the plunger I82 is of a length so that, in one position, it is inwardly of the plane of the face I63 (as in Fig. 8) and, in another position, outwardly of that plane. When it is inwardly of that plane,

.-the sphere I83 is closely adjacent the sphere I19 press upon the travel rearwardly (toward the right in Fig. 3) of the rack.

Paralleling and spaced from the rack I, as in Fig. 3, is a carrier bar or elongated member I59 which forms an arm of the structure I49. This member I59, as shown in Fig. 8 has a straight, longitudinally-extending slot I60 extending inwardly from its face I6I, from adjacent to juncture of the member I59 and arm I5I, a perforation I62, extending normal to the slot I60 from the face I63 to the face I64, and an oval opening I65 extending from the face I63 to the face I64. The perforation is disposed below the slot I60 and substantially midway the length of the slot, and the opening I65 is also is adapted to slide longitudinally of the carrier.

bar I59, upon the face I6I thereof. The outer end of the arm I68 is secured, in any approved way, as by welding, to the upper side face of a lookout pin cylinder I69 which is secured to a bracket I13 carried by the rack I4I beyond the abutment I51.

The cylinder I69 contains a piston I1I urged toward the carrier bar faces I63 by an expansion coil spring I12 and to the piston is secured a lockout pin I13 which slides longitudinally'of the cylinder I69 and extends outwardly of both ends thereof, with the spring I12 coiled about the rearward portion of the pin I13 within the cylinder. Normally the end face I14 of the lockout pin bears against the face I63 of the carrier bar I59 and positioned to pass over the perforation I62 (since the lockout pin is larger in diameter than is the diameter of this perforation). This end of the lookout pin is adapted to enter the opening I65. The portion of the lookout pin opposite its end face I14, projecting from the cylinder may be exteriorly screw and the switch I16 will be closed. When the shank of the plunger is outwardly of the plane of the face I63, the switch I16 will be open but the two spheres closely adjacent one another. The plunger I82 may be releasably held, with the sphere I83, in these two positions by a spring clip I84 having a concave seat I85 for' the spheres I19 and I83 and a concave seat I86 for the sphere I83 (when the plunger I82 extends outwardly of the plane mentioned). Thus the clip I84 retains both the switch arm I18 in an open-switch position and the plunger I82 protruding from the face I63, or, when the switch arm I18 is released (switch closed), the sphere I83 will be in the concavity I85. Obviously, the reciprocation of the plunger I82 will close the switch, as in Fig. 8.

Associated with the switch arm I18 is a lockout switch trip means, which may be a second plunger I81 with one end thereof adapted to engage the switch arm I18 to open the switch I16. Normally, the second plunger I81 is disposed as in Fig. 8, but it has a portion I88, slidable within the opening I and adapted to be contacted by the lockout pin I13 which may enter the opening upon travel thereof to the left as in Fig. 8. (It should be remembered that the reciprocating lockout pin is operatively connected with the rack I4I.) However, when not so contacted and pushed toward the switch armI18 by the lockout pin, the second plunger I81 is urged away from the open switch arm by an expansion coil spring I89 bearing at one end against the housing I90 through which the outer end of the plunger I81 slides, and with its other end bearing against one face of the enlargement I88.

Thus, while the plunger I82 is adapted to close the switch I16, the plunger I81 is adapted to open it, but both plungers are actuated by the lockout pin I13.

Referring now to the abutment ns u on the lockout pin I13, this is constructed and arranged,

upon travel of the lockout pin to the left in Fig. 8, to be engaged by a forked member or lifting fork I90, shown in Figs. 8 and 10, preferably manually movable toward and away from the carrier bar I59 and secured to a plunger I9I slidable within a suitable slotted housing I92 (through the slot of which the fork I protrudes) and with the plunger reciprocably actuated by an operator who may pull or push on a suitable handle I93 attached to the plunger I9I and extending outwardly of the housing I92 which latter may be rigidly secured to the carrier bar I59. A retraction coil spring I may be provided to urge the plunger ill toward the carrier bar but with the plunger stopped by an abutment m carried by the housing. It will be noted that the structure Ill to I" inclusive is disposed to the left of the opening III as in Fig. 8 or so that, when the lockout pin I" has travelled to a position for its head to enter the opening ill, the end of the lockout pin carrying the abutment I" will be straddled by the fork ill. Therefore, drawing outwardly on the handle I" will cause the fork to engage the abutment (which, due to the forward movement of the lockout pin is then closely ad- Jacent the fork) and draw the lookout pin out of the opening Ill. 1

An important part of the structure of the lockout means is a lockout discriminator gate I". shown particularly in Figs. 3 and 8. This may be a plate having a pair of longitudinally-extending slots I and slidable over the face I" of the carrier bar I". The gate has a lockout pin-contacting edge I" and is supported by suitable headed pins it! extending through the slots I and carried by the carrier bar.

Normally, the gate III is disposed in a position to cover the opening ill (as in Fig. 8) with its edge I91 at but not covering the mouth of the perforation m, and is urged to this position by a contraction coil spring I99 at which time the left-hand pins I (as in Fig. 8) are at the left-hand limit of the slots I98.

Referring now to the electric switch 200 shown mainlyinFig. l1,butalsoinFig. 4,thismaybe a conventional mercury switch, with one end normally tilted to an open-circuit position, but pivoted to be rocked to a closed-circuit position by an arm Ill positioned to be moved into engagement with the lower end of the mercury housing. This arm III is actuated by a switch arm actuator 2|! carried upon the outer face of the time delay disc I", as in Fig. 11, and positioned so that it will be in the path of travel of the actuator I" as the disc ill rotates.

The pinion I shown in Fig. 3 and meshing with the teeth of rack ill, is operatively connected with a suitable gear train for association with a conventional brake assembly (not shown) It will be noted in Fig. 4, that the armature III is urged to the left by the expansion coil spring Ill so as to permit the disc ill tomove away from disc ill, urged by the coil expansion spring 2 between them.

As for the remainder of the electric wiring (shownmainlyinFig. 3), aleadili extends from one end of each of the windings of the disc-meshing solenoid ill and the motor Iii to one terminal III of the mercury switch 2". A lead I" extends from the fixed contact ill of the switch I" to the lead III. The lead It extendsto and is electrically connected with the arm I'll carrying the movable contact I" and the lead Ill connected with the terminal III of the mercury switch ill.

When the recloser is in the closed po ition as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and the potential is disconnected at the source side ll: of the recloser. de-energizing the potential transformer I, the no-voltage solenoid II will release the armature II which, by virtue of its mass and gravity, will strike the latch arm II, and cause the latch lock head It to be forced out of its recess I.

This last action quickly causes the arm I to pivot upwardly and permit the pole rod spring 88 toreturnthepolerodlisothatitsupperend will abut the pole rod stop 34, thus quickly Open- 1! ing the high tension contacts I1 and ll. Simultaneously with the above operations, the low tension switch automatically closes.

The pole rod lock-in latch arm ll, now being free of the latch head Ii, the former and its associated structure II, N, I! and II will return to their original positions as they are shown in Fig. 2. r

The recloser will now remain open until the potential is again established to the potential transformer II, and. even so. high tension contacts I1 and 40 cannot again reclose the circuit until the time delay mechanism has run through the following sequence: If the potential is now applied to the potential transformer II. by energizing the circuit to the recloser, the time delay mechanism will automaticalLv and immediately start operations in order to reclose the high tension contact members l1 and ll, establishing service beyond the recloser after a predetermined time period. Since the potential transformer It is now energized, and the low tension switch I. is in the closed position the synchronous motor ill will start to rotate its shaft in a given direction. Simultaneously, the solenoid ii! will be energized and its armature will force the time delay disc il'l against the grooved face of the motor-driven disc Ill. causing both discs to rotate as a unit. Rotation of these two discs will continue until the member or switch arm actuator II! strikes the tilting beam of the mercury switch 2" causing the liquid mercury to complete the electrical circuit through the main pole rod operating solenoid ll, so that the pole rod 32 will move downwardly against the tension of the opening spring 33, thus closing the high tension contacts I1 and 40. Obviously, this action is timed to take place and'be completed Just before the timing disc stop arm I contacts the stationary limit stop I25 as shown in 8. 4.

Simultaneously with the closing of the high tension switch, including the contacts 31 and ll, the latch mechanism 5|, 5! and 83 will have locked the pole rod in the closed position and. at the same time switch opening arm II will have opened the low tension switch ll which. in turn. will de-energize the main operating solenoid ll, synchronous motor ill, and disc meshing solenoid lit, whereupon the spring Ill. Fig. 4, will return disc III to its original position clear of disc H3. As soon asdisc III is clear of disc III, as shown in Fig. 4, the timing disc return spring I26 quickly returns the timing disc I" to the adjustable stop III as shown in Fig. 3, which, as stated, may be placed at any of the selective time-setting positions, depending upon the particular reclosing time setting selected.

At the time that the synchronous motor iii and the disc-meshing solenoid Ill are simultaneously energized, and the meshing of the two discs lit and H1 is completed. several other actions automatically take place as follows: The rack Ill moves with disc lil away from the plane of the rack locking pin Ill allowing this pin to move vertically downwardly locking rack ill. The rack now can be moved only in the forward direction by the integrating pin catch III which is positioned for contact with the integrating pins I" only at the time when the discs Ill and iii are meshed. The only time when rack HI can return to the rack guide arm and abutment iii is when the rack free timing catch member III is in the position as shown in Fig. 3. or when the circuit recloser is normally closed.

Repeated operations of the time delay mechanism, such as would occur duringhigh-tension member I20 is returned to the normal operating short-circuit or over-load, would successively advance the integrating pins I40 until lock-out would take place. Lockout takes place after the third reclosure at which time the lockout switch I is opened, rendering the recloser inoperative, in the open position, until the automatic lockout pin I1! is manually reset.

The functions described above for the operations after potential is established to the recloser following an outage. are identical in sequence when the recloser is caused to trip out because of a fault current beyond the recloser originating in the load conductor I06. However, if fault current is the cause of the recloser being tripped out, armature 64 of the high tension short circuit tripping solenoid 83 strikes the head 11 of the second latch-tripping arm 16, tripping latch and initiating the recloser opening functions. If short circuit conditions persist, repetition of the initiating sequence caused by tripping the solenoid 03, will immediately reopen the recloser, following each time-delayed closing of the high tension contacts, until lockout occurs.

The lockout means to render the recloser open and inoperative under persistent short circuit conditions is accomplished in the following manner: Attached to the timing disc H1 is the integrating pin-catch I35 and rotation of the timing disc 1' advances the integrating pincatch I35 until' contact is made with an integrating pin I40. Each full operation of the timing disc II1 will advance the rack I4I', one pin position forward, with each closing operation of the recloser. The rack MI is held in this new position until rack-free catch member I20 is returned by the timing disc I I1, to the normal operating position as shown in Fig. 3 and when I so returned its action is to release the rack lock I45 so that rack I4I may drift back .to the rack abutment and guide arm -I5I at a predetere mined rate of speed. This is the normal func .tion of rack HI and the integrating pins I each time the recloser operates to close the high tension contacts under normal conditions.

However, should short circuit conditions persist, from the vicinity of load I06, fault current will reopen the recloser immediately. Simultaneously, with the reopening of the recloser, the low-tension switch 00 closes.

as the disc-meshing solenoid H9, causing disc II1 to move axially toward and in contact with II3, so that rack free catch member I20, will have moved beyond the region of rack lock lifting pin I50, thus permitting the teeth of rack lock I to engage the teeth I43 of rack I, thus locking the rack in this new position. The above stops the backward drift of the rack.

Persistent fault current will cause a repetition of the operations described above and each complete operation of the disc II1 will advance the rack I4I one pin space forward. Finally, integrating pin catch I35 will contact and move forward the last or fourth integrating pin I40 as though the recloser were going to be closed for a fourth time. Half way through this sequence however, and before the recloser could close a fourth time, the lookout pin I13 will have engaged and tripped lockout switch trip pin causing the lookout switch I18 to open, deenergizing the electric motor-control circuit.

Under the lookout condition, the rack Ill and its integrating pins I40 will remain in the lockout position, even though the ratchet-free catch This immedir ately energizes synchronous motor III as well position, thus freeing the rack lock I45 when the control circuit is de-energized. This affords means for allowing only one more closing operation of the recloser should the recloser be manually reset erroneously and fault current still persist. This feature is accomplished by action of the look-out discriminator gate I05.

By its association with the look-out mechanism, the look-out discriminator gate affords-a means of allowing the recloser only one more closing operation, should the recloser be manually reset in ignorance of persistent fault current, with the further ability to automatically return rack I to the normal operating position at rack abutment and guide arm I5I, in theevent that normal conditions exist when the recloser is manually reset.

The automatic operation of the discriminator gate is performed as follows: Lock-out pin I13 which is movable with the rack I4I, slides longitudinally along the carrier bar I59 upon recipreclosing operations have been performed, the I lockout pin I13 will have moved to the lockout position. At a predetermined point the lockout pin will contact the contact discriminator gate I05, forcing the gate ahead of it, and exposing the head of switch opening pin or plunger I01,

to the spring pressure of the lockout pin, whereupon the spring forces 'the lockout pin into the lockout well or opening I65, thus opening switch.

The recloser is now automatically locked out and open, and will remain so until manually reset.

To manually reset the recloser for further automatic operations, the operator has but one operation to perform. That is, to reset the recloser by pulling outwardly on the manual reset handle Fig. 8, and immediately releasing the same. Pulling outwardly on the manually reset handle I03 causes the lifting forkto pull the lockout pin I13 out of the lookout well or opening I65, whereupon the discriminator gate immediately moves over the lookout well, i. e., returns to its original position on carrier bar I59 and the lookout pin I13 now rides upon the surface of discriminator gate instead of upon carrier bar.

The previous operation of the opening switch causes the ball end of the switch bar to strike the switch closing pin, forcing the latter into the second or lower section of the spring clip I05. When the switch reclosing pin is in this position, its other end protrudes outwardly of the surface of the carrier bar.

Whenthe rack I4I drifts rearwarclly (that is, moves to the right in Fig. 3) carrying with it the lockout pin I13 to the edge of the discriminator gate, the lookout pin slips off the rear edge of the discriminator gate I 95, striking the switch reclosing pin which is, as stated, protruding outwardly of the surface of the carrier bar. The spring pressure upon the lookout spring forces the switch reclosing pin to return to its original position within the spring clip I40, thus reclosing the locking switch. The action of reclosing switch at the time when the lookout pin slips off the rear edge of discriminator gate bears a relationship to its position on the rack which will allow the recloser to reclose again only once, in the event that fault current still persists. 0n

the other hand. should line conditions be normal. the rack will drift rearwardly to the normal operating position, completely resetting the recloser for a full sequence of operations. Since the lookout pin is larger in diameter than the switch reclosing pin, the former will pass over the opening in the carrier bar when moving thereover toward the lockout well.

When the rack Ill is advanced. step by step due to the operations of the integrating pin catch ill. and the integrating pins I, the rack return spring I" is compressed. This resultant stored energy in the spring is the means used to return the rack to the stop Ill.

Control of this stored energy stored in the rack return spring is accomplished by the application of the train gear escapement, which regulates the return speed of the rack.

The train gear is actuated by way of the teeth of pinion ill, meshing with the teeth ill of the rack and is adapted to conventionally step up the R. P. M. at the final stage to a suitable speed for a conventional governor brake. It is preferred that the R. P. M. of the final stage of the train gear should be in the neighborhood of 300 R. P. M., in order to insure smooth and constant braking effect to the rack so as to regulate the return speed thereof to the rack stop iii at a desired predetermined rate of speed. The governor brake will be arranged, of course, in such conventional a manner so that no braking effect takes place on the forward movement of the rack, regulating only the backward drift of the same to the stop Iii.

Obviously the automatic operating function of the driven timing disc Ill is dependent solely upon the speed of the driving disc Ill. For example. the speed of the driving disc is .25 R. P. M. or one complete revolution in four minutes when the motor III is energized. The total rotation of the driven disc for each complete operation will vary, depending upon what location the adjustable stop I21 is placed to secure a predetermined time delay interval at which the recloser is to operate.

The speed of the synchronous motor Ill may be reduced to the desired R. P. M. to produce a shaft speed of .25 R. P. M. at the driving disc H3, through the conventional speed reduction gearing Hi. It should be pointed out that the powerduty of the synchronous motor is very light, since it is confined to turning driven timing disc at a very low rate of speed, whereby a small synchronous motor would easily accomplish this task.

The only time synchronous motor Ill, discmeshing solenoid H9, and high-tension contactsop'erating solenoid 30 are energized. is when the control switch so is closed. This is closed only when the recloser is in the open position. at which time the high tension contacts 31 and II are not in engagement. Furthermore, the hightension contacts-operating solenoid is not energiaed until the recloser has operated through thetime delay setting for which it is set and has closed the tilting mercury switch completing the control circuit through the main operating solenoid ll to close the high tension contacts mentioned.

In Figs. 12 and 13 are shown two different examples of the installation of the novel recloser. Fig. 12 illustrates a typical distribution circuit 1-! into which five inrush current reclosers A are installed on the various main sections or laterals of the circuit. The letter B designates the d18- tribution substation which houses the conventional standard distribution circuit breaker Q with the conventional circuit protective equipment, and the line sections beyond and under the control of the lateral line reclosers A are designated as C, D, E, F and G. Under normal conditions the distribution circuit H is energiaed and normally operating with all line reclosers A in the closed position.

Now assuming that the circuit is either purposely or accidentally de-energized for some unavoidable reason (or reasons), at the substation B by the opening of the main circuit breaker and the line reclosers are designed for instantaneous no-voitage tripping by the action of the tripping solenoid ii. the following will be the operating sequence of the circuit when the same is re-energized by closing the main circuit breaker at the substation B. Since the line toclosers A will be in the open position and unable to close until a predetermined time after the main circuit breaker at substation B is closed. only approximately one sixth of the circuit is immediately energized following the closing of the main circuit breaker.

If the selective time setting of the line reclosers are graduated in ten seconds-increasing time intervals, the following will be the sequence of operations after the main circuit breaker at substation B is closed until all line reclosers have successively operated to restore service to the entire circuit: (1) Zero time and circuit breaker closes at substation B, energizing the line be tween the main circuit breaker and all line reclosers which are in the open position; (2) ten seconds later and line recloser A associated with line C. automatically closes, energizing the line C beyond its location; (3) ten seconds later (or twenty seconds after main circuit breaker closed at substation B). and recloser A associated with line D automatically closes energizing the line D beyond its location; (4) ten seconds later (or thirty seconds after main circuit breaker closed at substation B), recloser A associated with line E automatically closes energizing the line it beyond its location; (5) ten seconds later (or forty seconds after main circuit breaker closed at substation B), recloser A associated with line F automatically closes, energizing the line 1" beyond its location; and (6) ten seconds later (or fifty seconds after main circuit breaker closed at substation B), recloser A associated with line G automatically closes energizing the line G beyond its location.

It should be pointed out that the successive time intervals of ten seconds between the respective reclosers A is not mandatory. but actual tests have indicated that, on the typical distribution circuit, five to ten seconds successive time intervals between the various reclosers is the minimum time required to allow the inrush cur- I rent crest of one line section to dissipate to a safe margin before successive line sections are added to the circuit. Since the ultimate magnitude of the final inrush current peak at service resumption is amplified with each minute following the opening of the main circuit breaker, high inrush current is not a serious problem for the first one hundred seconds after the main circuit breaker has opened. In view of the above. some users may desire that the circuit reclosers not be designed for instantaneous tripping when the main circuit breaker is unavoidably opened.

In Fig. 13 is illustrated a typical single circuit transmission such as one supplying a rural substation and rural distribution circuit into which three line reclosers, for example, have been installed. Of course, this new recloser affords a special means of controlling both high transient currents and high inrush currents, following unavoidable outages on long single circuit transmission lines feeding from a centralized point supplying rural or isolated distribution circuits, and manual supervision and operations can be eliminated at the distribution or distant end of such circuits by the use of this recloser. In addition, before the distribution load is applied, the ability of the new recloser to re-establish service beyond itself, after a predetermined time, when potential is established up to the recloser, will afford a means of dissipating the charging current of the transmission line and also the transient caused by energizing the rural substation transformers. By this arrangement, the protective equipment of the entire circuit located at the central feeder location can be lower in current value, more sensitive and quicker in operation, thus affording a higher degree of protection for the entire circuit.

The sequence of operations of such a circuit following an outage or an unavoidable de-energized period would be as follows: (1) Zero time and main circuit breaker R at the central substation K is closed, energizing the transmission circuit L and the rural substation transformers M, five seconds allowed for charging current and transformer transient to dissipate; (2) flve seconds after main circuit breaker closed at central substation K and line recloser A closes, energizing distribution circuit N to the two other reclosers A associated therewith; (3) ten seconds later (or fifteen seconds after main circuit breaker closed at central substation K) and line recloser A associated with line section closes energizing line section 0 beyond its location; (4) ten seconds later (or twenty-five seconds after main circuit breaker closed at central substation K) and line recloser A associated with line section P closes, energizing line P beyond its location.

Various changes may be made to the form of the invention herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the claims.

1. In a high-voltage inrush electric current control circuit recloser, a high-tension electric switch; a potential transformer in'circult therewith; a synchronous electric motor; a lowtension electric switch in circuit with said motor and transformer; a self-opening electric switch with one pole thereof electrically connected with said motor; solenoid-operated means for opening and closing said high-tension switch, the windings thereof being electrically connected with said motor and the other pole of said self-opening switch; and lockout means to render the recloser open under persistent short circuit conditions in sub-mains and feeders of the transmission circuit, including a normally-closed lockout switch in circuit with said motor and transformer, a reciprocating member provided with a plurality of spaced-apart integrating pins and a lockout switch-tripping means, and two actuator arms, one movable upon rotation of the rotor of said electric motor to close said selfopening switch, and the other movable upon rotation of said rotor to engage said pins, one

after another, until said lockout switch-tripping means opens said lockout switch.

2. In a high-voltage inrush electric current control circuit recloser, a high-tension electric switch; a potential transformer in circuit therewith; a synchronous electric motor; a low-tension electric switch in circuit with said motor and transformer; a self-opening electric switch with one pole thereof electrically connected with said motor; solenoid-operated means for opening and closing said high-tension switch, the windings thereof being electrically connected with said motor and the other pole of said self-opening switch; and lockout means to render the recloser open under persistent short circuit conditions in sub-mains and feeders of the transmission circuit, including a normally-closed lockout switch in circuit with said motor and transformer, a reciprocating member provided with a plurality of spaced-apart integrating pins and a lookout switch tripping means, latching means to normally secure said reciprocating member in a fixed position, and three actuator arm means, all operable upon rotation of the rotor of said motor, one of said three means being operable to close said self-opening switch, another of said three means being operable to engage said plus, one after another, until said lockout switch-tripping means opens said lockout switch, and the third of said three means being operable to unlatch said latching means from said reciprocating member.

3. In a high-voltage inrush electric current control circuit recloser, a high-tension electric switch; a potential transformer in circuit therewith; a synchronous electric motor; a low-tension electric switch in circuit with said motor and transformer; a self-opening electric switch with one pole thereof electrically connected with said motor; solenoid-operated means for opening and closing said high-tension switch, the windings thereof being electrically connected with said motor and the other pole of said self-opening switch; and lockout means to render the recloser open under persistent short circuit conditions in sub-mains and feeders of the transmission circuit, inclu inga normally-closed lockout switch in circuit with said motor. and transformer, a reciprocating member provided with a plurality of spaced-apart integrating pins and a lockout switch tripping means, including a lookout pin carried by said reciprocating member for reciprocation in a direction normal to the path of reciprocation of said reciprocating member and constructed and arranged to cause tripping of said lockout switch when said reciprocating member carries said pin opposite said lockout switch, latching means to normally secure said reciprocating member in a fixed position, and three actuator arm means, all operable upon rotation of the rotor of said motor, one of said three means being operable to close said self-opening switch, another of said three means being operable to engage said integratin pins, one after another, until said lockout switch-tripping means opens said lockout switch, and the third of said three means being operable to unlatch said latching means from said reciprocating member.

4. In a high-voltage inrush electric current control circuit recloser, a high-tension electric switch; a potential transformer in circuit therewith; a synchronous electric motor; a low tension electric switchin circuit with said motor and transformer; a self-opening electric switch with one pole thereof electrically connected with said motor; solenoid-operated means for opening and 5 closing said high-tension switch, the windings thereof being electrically connected with said motor and the other pole of said self-opening switch; and lockout means to render the reclooer open under persistent short circuit conditiom in sub-mains and feeders of the transmission circuit. including a normally-closed lockout switch in circuit with said motor and transformer. a reciprocating member provided with a plurality oi spaced-apart integrating pins and a lockout switch tripping means, including a spring-urged lockout pin carried by said reciprocating member for reciprocation in a direction normal to the path of reciprocation of said reciprocating member and constructed and arranged to cause tripping of said lockout switch when said reciprocating member carries said pin opposite said lockout switch. latching means to normally secure said reciprocating member in a flxed position, and three actuator arm means, all operable upon rotation of the rotor of said motor, one of said three means being operable to close said self-opening switch, another of said three means being operable to engage said integrating pins. one after another. until said lockout switch-tripping means opens said lockout switch, and the third of said three means being operable to unlatch said latching means from said reciprocating member.

5. In a high-voltage lnrush electric current control circuit recloser, a high-tension electric switch; a potential transformer in circuit therewith; a synchronous electric motor; a low-tension electric switch in circuit with said motor and transformer: a self-opening electric switch with one pole thereof electrically connected with said motor; solenoid-operated means for opening and closing said high-tension switch, the windings thereof being electrically connected with said motor and the other pole of said sell-opening switch; and lockout means to render the recloser open under persistent short circuit conditions in sub-mains and feeders of the tr circuit, including a normally-closed lockout switch in circuit with said motor and transformer, a reciprocating member provided with a plurality oi spaced-apart integrating pins and a lockout switch tripping means, a fixed support for said lockout switch, said support having an opening. with a plunger slidably contained therein and normally extending from opposite faces thereof. said lockout switch having a movable contact member disposed in the path of travel of said plunger, a lockout pin carried by said reciprocating member for reciprocation in a direction normal to the path of reciprocation of said reciprocating member and constructed and arranged to contact and move said plunger when said reciprocating member carries said pin opposite said lockoutswitch and in axial alignment with said plunger. latching means to normally secure said reciprocating member in a iixed position, and three actuator arm means, all operable upon rotation oi the rotor of said motor, one of said three means being operable to close said self-opening switch, another of said three means being operable to engage said integrating pins, one after another, until said lockout switch-tripping means opens said lockout switch, and the third of said three means being operable to unlatch said latching means from said reciprocating member.

6. In a high-voltage inrush electric current control circuit recloser, a high-tension elech'ic switch; a potential transformer in circuit therewith; a synchronous electric motor; a low-tension electric switch in circuit with said motor and transformer; a sell-opening electric switch 20 withonepolethereotelectrieallyeonnectedwith said motor; solenoid-operated means for openin: and closing said blah-tension switch. the windings thereoi' being electrically connected withsaidmotorandtheotherpoleoisaidseliopeninglwitcmandiockoutmeanstorenderthe recioseropenumlerperlistentshort circuit can-- ditlominsub-mainsuxlteedersoitnetrans mhsioneircuit, includinganormally-closed loci:- outswitchlncircmtwithsaidmotorandtransformer. a reciprocating member provided with a plurality of spaced-apart integrating pins and alockommtch rlpplnsmeanaaflxedmppcrt for said lockout switch, said support having an opening.withaplungerslidabiycontainedtbereinandnormallyextendingiromoppositeiacea thereof, said lockout switch having a movable eontaetmemberdisposedinthepathoitravelot saidplungena'lockoutpincarriedbysaidreciprocating member for reciprocation in a die rectionnormaltothepathotrecipmcationot saidreciprocatingmemberandconstructedand arramedtocontactandmovesaidplungerwben saidreciprocatingmembercarriessaidpinoppositesaidlockoutswitchandinaxialalisnment with said plunger. a movable barrier carried by saki ilxed support. a resilient member urging saidban'ierlongitudhiallyoisaidilxedsupport toapositioncoveringflieendoi'saidopening opposite its end adjacent said lockout switch. saidbarrierhavingaiaceeonstruetedandarmngedtoreceiveanendiaeeoi'saidpinwhen saidpinisinonepositlonandaiaceoonstructed andarrangedtoabutthesideoisaidpinwhen saidpinlsinanotherposltiomlatchingmeam to normally secure said reciprocating member inaflxedpositiomandthreeactuatorarmmeam. all operable upon rotation of the rotor of said motor,oneofsaidthreemeansbeing'operabb to close said self-opening switch. another oi saidthreemeansbeingoperabletoensasesaid integrating pins. one after another. until said lockout nitch-tribpins means opens said lockoutswitch.andtbethirdoi'saidthreemeans beingoiierabletounlatch said latchingmeam tromsaidrecipmcating member.

I. In a high-voltage inrush electric cin-reat control circuit recloser, a high-tension electric swltch;apotential transiormerincircuittberewith; asynchronomelectricmotor; slow-tena fixed Bill!- iockout switch, said support having with a plumer slidably contained extending from opposite races thereof, said lockout switch having a move able contact member arenas! 'whensaidrecimocatingmembercarriessaidpin oppcsitesaidlockoutswitchandinaxialllisnment with said plunger. a movable barrier carriedbysaidfixedsupportaresilientmember urging said barrier longitudinally of said fixed support to a position covering the end of said opening opposite its end adjacent said lockout another of said three means being operable to Wage said integrating pins, one after another, until said lockout switch-tripping means opens said lockout switch, and the third of said three means being operable to unlatch said latchin means from said reciprocating member; and manual means to rec procate said pin independently of the movement of said pin when the pin contacts said plunger.

8. In a high-voltage inrush electric current control circuit recloser; means to place said recloser in circuit with a high voltage transmission circuit; a high-tension electric switch; means to open and close said switch including an armature, a latch structure carried partly thereby, including a bolt and a movable keeper, a high tension, short circuit member-tripping solenoid, a no-voltage member-tripping solenoid, a keepertripping member disposed in the path of travel of the armature of one of said solenoids, a keepertripping member disposed in the path of travel of the other of said solenoids, the windings of said first-named solenoid being in circuit with said high-tension switch; time-delay means to actuate said second means to reclose said switch after a predetermined time interval subsequent to the opening of said switch; means to establish potential to the recloser after an outage, including a potential transformer; lockout means to render the recloser open and inoperative under persistent short-circuit condition in the submains and laterals oi the transmission circuit ings of said second-named solenoid being in circuit with one of the windings of said potential transformer and in circuit with said lockout switch.

9. In a high-voltage inrush electric current control circuit recloser; means to place said recloser in circuit with a high voltage transmission circuit; a high-tension electric switch; means to open and close said switch including a first solenoid, a latch structure carried partly by the armature of said solenoid, including a bolt and a pivoted keeper, a second solenoid, a third solenoid, a keeper-tripping member disposed in the path of travel of the armature of said second solenoid, a keeper-trippin member disposed in the path of travel of the armature of said third solenoid, the windings of said second solenoid being in circuit with said hightension switch; time delay means to actuate said second means to reclose said switch after a predetermined time interval subsequent to the openin of said switch including an electric motor; means to establish potential to the recloser after an outage, including a potential transformer; lockout means to render the recloser open and inoperative under persistent short-circuit conditions in the on circuit, sub-mains and feeders, including an electric lockout switch; a self-opening electric switch; the windings of said first solenoid being in circuit with said self-opening switch and the windings of said motor, the windings of the second solenoid being in circuit with said lockout switch and one of the windings of said potential transformer, and the windings of the third solenoid being in circuit with said high tension switch.

10. In a high voltage inrush electric current control circuit recloser; means to place said recloser in circuit with a high voltage transmission circuit; a high-tension electric switch; means to open and close said switch including a first solenoid, a latch structure carried partly by the armature of said solenoid, including a bolt and a pivoted keeper, a second solenoid, a third solenoid, a keeper-tripping member disposed in the path of travel of the armature of said second solenoid, a keeper-tripping member disposed in the path of travel of the armature of said third solenoid, the windings of said second solenoid being in circuit with said high-tension switch; time delay means to actuate said second means to reclose said switch after a predetermined time interval subsequent to the opening of said switch including anselectric motor; means to establish potential to the recloser after an outage, including a potential transformer; lockout means to render the recloser open and inoperative under persistent short-circuit conditions in the transmission circuit sub-mains and feeders, including an electric lockout switch; a self-opening electric switch; a normally-clomd low-tension electric switch, means carried by the armature of said first 'solehold to open said low-tension switch, the windings of said first solenoid being in circuit with said self-opening switch and the windings of said motor. the windings of the second solenoid being in circuit with said lockout switch and one of the windings of said potential transformer, the windings of the third solenoid being in circuit with said high tension switch, and the low-tension swi h being in circuit with the windings of said tor, said first solenoid and one of the windings of said potential transformer.

11. In a high voltage inrush electric current control circuit recloser; means to place said recloser in circuit with a high voltage transmission circuit; a high-tension electric switch; means to open and close said switch including a first solenoid, a latch structure carried partly by the armature of said solenoid, including a bolt and a pivoted keeper, a second solenoid, a third solenoid, a keeper-tripping member disposed in the path of travel of the armature of said second solenoid, a keeper-tripping member disposed in the path 01' travel of the armature of said third solenoid, the windings of said second solenoid being in circuit with said high-tension switch; time delay means to actuate said second means to reclose said switch after a predetermined time interval subsequent to the opening of said switch including an electric motor; means to establish potential to the recloser after an outage, includ ing a potential transformer; lockout means to render the recloser open and inoperative under persistent short-circuit conditions in the transmission circuit sub-mains and feeders, including an electric lockout switch; a self-opening electric switch; a normally-closed low-tension electric switch, means carried by the armature of said first solenoid to open said low tension switch.

including an arm carried by said armature of said first solenoid, with the movable contact of said lowtension switch interpomd in the path of travel of said arm, the windings of said first solenoid being in circuit with said self-opening switch and the windings of said motor. the windings of the second solenoid being in circuit with said lockout switch and one of the windincs of said potential transformer, the windings of the third solenoid being in circuit with said high tension switch, and the low-tension switch being in circuit with the windings 'of said motor, said first solenoid and one of the windings of said potential transformer.

12. In a high-voltage lnrush electric current control recloser, means to place said recloser in circuit in a high-voltage transmission circuit; a high tension electric switch; electric means to trip said switch; electro-mechanical means to cause said electric means to successively trip said switch for a plurality of successive fault tripp nlll and to follow with a lockout under persistent fault condition in said circuit exterior-1y of said recloser: electro-mechanical switch reclosing means operatively connected with said switch; electromechanical means responsive to reestablished potential, following correction of said fault condiflon. to cause said switch reclosing means to re- 24 close said switch; manually-operated means to cause said switch reclosing means to close said switch; and manually set means to selectively vary the reclosing time interval of said switch reclosing means, and to selectively cause said switch reclosing means to retain said switch closed, when closed through operation of said manually-operated means, and selectively cause said electric means to trip said switch when fault conditions still exist in said circuit exteriorly of said recloser after one reclosure of said switch.

ERNEST 0. PAINTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

